“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” Luke 2:15-16
Have you ever noticed that the angel of the Lord did not specifically command the shepherds to go find the child? He just told them how they would find the child. Yet, they couldn’t wait to find Him. We are told that they, “hurried off.” That is, they ran like scalded dogs.
Unlike the religious leaders of that day who knew where the baby would be born, who had been told by the wise men earlier that were going to find the baby, and who didn’t bother to investigate for themselves, these shepherds couldn’t wait to see God’s Word fulfilled and to see the promise God had kept.
Christmas ought to teach all of us that a God that can send an angel to guide the shepherds to a manger can also send angels to guard us through life. These shepherds thought finding Jesus was more important than keeping sheep – and sheep were their livelihood. They left everything to find Jesus. Those shepherds finally realized that while they were keeping watch over their sheep, God was keeping watch over them.
Do you know who is the source of everything you have? God. Do you know who is the supplier of everything you have? God. Do you know who is the security of everything you have? God.
Those shepherds were never the same after this night. They never saw the sheep the way they used to see them; and they never saw themselves the way the used to see themselves. They now knew that just as they kept watch over their sheep by night, Someone far greater was keeping watch over them every second of every day.
When you experience Christmas, you trust God’s protection.
Dear Lord, thank you that I can trust you to protect me when I need protection. I pray that I would rest in you rather than trying to take care of myself when I'm tempted. In Jesus' name, amen.
Topics: Trust
